The Waif of the Cynthia""

him a visitor's card. This card, which was small as is usual in America, h

or, trying to remember whom he h

ed to see the docto

t my office-hour?"

ness was about a

en," said the do

rised when he beheld the singular person who answered to

under his chin he wore a little red beard. This odd head, covered by a high hat which he did not pretend to remove, surmounted a thin angular body, clothed from head to foot in a woolen suit. In his cravat he wore a pin, containing a diamond as large as a walnut; also a large gold chain, and his vest buttons were amethysts. He had a dozen rings on his

octor Schw

doctor, very much ast

for his servant to conduct this offensive person to

," said the stranger, "and I thought you would lik

sir," answer

t the stranger had n

seated himself with his hands in his pockets, lifted his feet and placed his heels on

details with pleasure, since you offer five hundred

wed without s

are wondering who I am. I am going to tell you. My card h

asked the docto

surprised, hesitated

a Scotchman, they take me very often for

rmation, he looked at Dr. Sch

u please, it is a matter

ggested the doctor, still cli

gain hesitated

o do with the matter in hand. I have an independent fortune and owe nothing to anybody. If I

at I did not ask you," s

published an advertisement to find out what became of Patrick O'Donoghan, did yo

or, drawing his seat close

u, I want to ask you what int

just," answe

ted Erik's history, to which his vis

still living?"

th, and in October next he will begin his s

"Tell me," he said at length, "have you no other means of solvin

ghan was in possession of the secret, that he alone could reveal it to me, and that is why I have adv

is

likely that he would respond to my advertisement. I had the intention of resorting to other means. I have a description of

the man before him. And as he watched him intently, he saw that in spite of the affected coolness of the stranger his eyel

stery, except by discovering Patrick O'Donoghan, I am afraid

disappointing announcement to say a word, an

. Nearly three years ago we were passing through the Straits of Madeira, when Patrick O'Donoghan fell overboard. I had the vessel stopped, and some boats lowered, and after a diligent search we recovered him; but though we spared no pains to restore him to life, our efforts were in vain. Patrick O'D

his pocket-book and presented the doctor

e Straits of Madeira, duly signed and sworn to, before two witnesses, as being an exact copy of the orig

e had received it was so strange that the doctor could not conceal

e question, sir," he

k, do

in your pocket duly prepared and certif

ths ago, and wishing to furnish you with the information which you asked for, I thought it better to give it to you, in the most complete and definite form that lay in

his reasoning-this was the only

with the 'Albatross

out d

ard some sailors who have

seve

permit me t

se. Will you accompa

ave no ob

said the strang

brought him his fur pelisse, his hat, and hi

er they were on boa

eaman, with a rubicund face, whose open co

ke some inquiries about the fate of Pa

s trouble enough to pick him up the day he was drowned in the Straits of Mad

for a long time?"

I believe that it was at Zanzibar that we

young sailor, who was busily em

"Was it at Zanzibar that we

an was not very good. "Oh yes, I remember him. The man who fell overboard in th

They had honest and open countenances. The uniformity of their answers seemed a little strange, and almost preconcerted; but after all it might be only the natural

were in good condition, well clothed, and under perfect discipline. The general appearance of the vessel insensiby acted upon the doctor, and carried conviction of the truth of the statement which he had just heard. He ther

t-I never di

retire. This he did without having obtained eve

re to Mr. Bredejord, who listened to him without saying a w

to see if they could elicit any further information, but the "Albatross" had left Stockholm, without le

e possession of the document, which legal

the British consul at Stockholm, whom he questioned, and who declared that the signatures and stamp were perfectly authen

d no further intelligence of Patrick O'Donoghan

, for the future, the inquiries would have to be based upon some other theory. He therefore made no opposition about commencing his medical studies the following autumn at the universit

lay heavy at his heart, and for whic

Kajsa, the doctor's niece. She lost no occasion of showing her dislike; but he would not at any price have had the excellent man suspect this state of affairs between them. His relations toward the young girl had always been most singular. In the eyes of Erik during these seven

's home, be treated as an adopted son, and become a favorite of her uncle and his friends. The scholastic success of

asant. It seemed to her that he brought discredit upon the doctor's household and on

iety than a cat or a dog; she manifested these sentiments by the most disdainful looks, the most mortifying silence, and the most cruel insults. If Erik was invited with her to any little social gathering at the hou

one day to reason with Kajsa, and to make her understand the injustice and cruelty of such a prejudice, but she would not even deign to listen to him. Then as they both grew older, the abyss which separated

the passionate ardor with which he pursued his studies. He dreamed of raising himself so high in public esteem, by the force of his own industry, that every one would bow bef

therefore frequently spoke of his desire, when his studies were completed, of engaging in some scientific expedition. While pursuing his stud